Udit Raj

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Udit Raj
File:Uditraj.jpg
Udit Raj
National Executive Member Bharatiya Janata Party[1]
Assumed office
23 February 2014
Member of the India Parliament
for North West Delhi
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Preceded by Krishna Tirath
Majority 1,06,802 (7.88%)
Personal details
Born (1961-01-01) 1 January 1961 (age 64)
Ramnagar, Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s) Seema Raj
Children 1 son
1 daughter
Alma mater Jawaharlal Nehru University
Profession Civil servant (Indian Revenue Service), social activist, writer, politician
Religion Buddhism
Website Udit Raj
As of 22 March, 2014

Udit Raj is an Indian Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, representing the North-west Delhi constituency. Raj is also the National Chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations. He is an influential leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as nationally as a social activist for Dalits. Udit Raj is a special invitee to the BJP National Executive.[2] He was born in Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh into a low caste Hindu Khatik family,[3] and studied for BA at Allahabad University. He took admission at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1980. He was selected for the prestigious Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and served as the Dy, Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi. On 24 November 2003 he declared his resignation from the Indian government service and formed a political party namely Indian Justice Party. He is a prominent activist working on behalf of India's Dalits.

He has joined Bharatiya Janata Party on 23 February 2014 in the presence of senior political leaders of BJP. In the past he had opposed BJP,[4] but now regards BJP to sympathetic to the Dalits and tribals.[5]

Early life

Udit comes from a Khatik family.[3] From his college days, Raj has been actively participating in social and political activities which at times also affected his studies- Raj would always jump to the rescue of some student who was meted out injustice. Due to financial constraints, he was forced to divert his attention from social activities so as to adequately prepare for his Civil Services Examination, which he cleared in 1988- Udit Raj was selected to serve the elite Indian Revenue Service. His first posting was at Ghaziabad where he would serve as Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax in the year 1990. He was transferred to Delhi in 1995, where he served at the reputed posts of Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax.[citation needed]

In 1997, five anti-reservation orders were issued by the government leading to a tumultuous situation in the country. Organizations of different intellectuals and various departments all over India joined hands and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organization was formed and Udit Raj was appointed as its national president. Under his leadership, various campaigns were initiated and demonstrations were held nationwide in protest against the Anti-reservation orders. Various national level rallies were organised in Delhi throughout 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The media created competition between the rallies organised by him and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which Udit Raj would turn in his favour.[citation needed]

Activism

Raj formed the Indian Justice Party and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations on 2 October 1997 and, in 1996, also established the Lord Buddha Club. Udit Raj, in the tradition of the Indian Dalit leader and author of the Constitution B. R. Ambedkar, converted to Buddhism in November 2001 alongside thousands of followers.

It was due to his efforts that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government passed the 81st, 82nd and 85th Constitutional Amendments which would, in turn, lead to the retrieval of reservation benefits.

Raj is a strong advocate for an increase in reservation in India for Indians belonging to Scheduled Caste-, Scheduled Tribe- and Other Backward Class-communities. In the past, Raj had formed partnerships with Christian organisations including the Indian Social Institute and the All India Christian Council. Raj has worked with prominent Christian leaders, such as John Dayal and Ambrose Pinto as well as with Muslim leaders such as Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

Raj's personal secretary is C. L. Maurya. Raj is also a member of the National Integration Council of the Indian Government.

Elections

Udit Raj was BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate for North West Delhi.[6] and won the Parliamentary election results declared on 16 May 2014.

Udit Raj and the BJP

Udit Raj has been a critic of Bharatiya Janata Party, but revised his position after joining the BJP, stating that he was convinced of the party's sincere interest in the inclusive growth of all sections of Indian society, including the welfare of SC/ST as well as backwards sections, in addition to the BJP's stated commitment to uphold the integrity and unity of India.

References

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External links

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